Read more about the Ford Transit based Auto-Sleeper Pollensa in the Practical Motorhome review

Design

The Auto-Sleeper Pollensa has a smooth, sleek, overcab appearance and a streamlined profile, but what you gain in a lithe exterior appearance, you lose in overcab headroom.
One potential advantage is that none of the living-area bodywork seams are exposed on the vehicle’s edges. While a motorhome is young, this is not an issue but by having the roof and overcab mouldings wrapping over the tops of the sidewalls – rather than sitting edge on edge with them – it encloses the seams, which bodes well for a long, damp-free life.
Access to the cab is inhibited by the handbrake and gear lever but the folding bed base ensures that there is plenty of headroom. Elsewhere, however, the Pollensa feels a bit small in places, particularly in the overcab area.
Auto-Sleeper has gone for the traditionally warm interior colour scheme favoured by UK buyers, and it’s successful. The gold upholstery goes well with the woodwork and generates the cosy feel that is unique to the brand.

On the road

The Pollensa is based on the superb Ford Transit and comes with ABS as standard. It also has a few other nice features, including the superb 135bhp 2.4TDCi Ford engine, a six-speed gearbox and generally enjoys a more car-like driving position than the Fiat Ducato. However, the large handbrake lever between the seats and the floor-mounted gearshift count against the Ford in motorhome terms as it makes access awkward from the cab to the living area. The Fiat also offers a more elevated driving position, but the Ford is easier to get in and out of, thanks to the lower seat level.
The Pollensa is a rear-wheel drive ’van. This has advantages for stability and traction on boggy ground and on the road. It’s also preferable for towing, because the weight of the trailer will be concentrated near the driving wheels.

Lounging & dining

The layout really excels at the end of the day, when you want to have a meal and relax. You can seat four at mealtimes and the tall backrests lend extra support during extended meals.
The Auto-Sleeper feels smaller than some rivals due to short seat-base cushions. The reason for this is the raked seat backs (which make for a more comfortable lounge in the evening).

Kitchen

The kitchen is strung across the back of the ’van, occupying the space between the washroom wall and the side wall. This limits available space on the worktop but Auto-Sleeper has worked around it.
At a size of 77 litres, the refrigerator is fairly small, because it has been fitted over the wheel arch. Storage is limited, too, and food preparation facilities around the sink and hob area is non-existent. On the plus side, the sink is large and has a recessed drainer, which makes it easier to stack the washing-up. The kitchen is well equipped, too, and has plenty of storage. There’s a three-burner hob with electric hotplate and an oven and grille.

Sleeping

There are two reasons for the Auto-Sleeper scoring so poorly in this section of the test. First, the overcab is little short of pathetic in terms of sleeping, and suitable for children only – but even they might turn their noses up at the mattress, split into several thin foam pieces and spread across a plastic base. Headroom, too, is incredibly tight, which makes the area an occasional overcab berth at best.
Second, the dinette can only really be made into a double bed, rather than double and single versions. Nevertheless, the bed is really easy to make up, very flat, supportive, and comfortable. However, having room for one double and a child in the overcab puts the Auto-Sleeper at a major disadvantage. If you are after a family motorhome, this simply will not fulfil the brief.
One really nice feature of the Pollensa is the radio cut-out switch which means you don’t have to clamber through to the cab to turn off the music if listening in bed.

Washroom

A swivel-bowl Thetford cassette toilet is standard, with a separate external filler on the ’van’s outside wall.
The separate shower controls are a nice touch and a cut above the integrated hand-basin/shower control units many rivals.

Storage

There’s a large locker door that allows access to the locker under the bench seat: this provides excellent external storage space.
Inside, there’s plenty of storage under the seat bases for things such as bedding, while numerous roof-level lockers line the areas above the lounge and dinette.
If you do more with your holidays than watch the telly, Auto-Sleeper provided has a removable shelf so that you can use the TV cabinet for an alternative use. All the ’vans have a half-height wardrobe.
Although the folding overcab bed base makes a pretty hopeless bed, at least it makes a secure, large, overcab storage area without putting things out of reach.